6 Tips to Drink Your Way to Better Skin This Season

The days may be getting shorter but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to your favorite outdoor drinking spot just yet. Just remember that it’s just as important to protect your skin in the fall as it is in the summer. Of course, nothing beats slathering on sunscreen for better skin, but making conscious choices about what you drink – and when – can have a big impact on your overall skin health.

6 Tips To Drink Your Way To Better Skin

We know – probably from firsthand experience that we’d like to forget – that adult beverages can be rather dehydrating even as the temperature gets cooler. But the damage may go beyond a rough hangover. Repetitive dehydration cycles can cause wrinkles and collagen loss making us look older faster.

6 Tips To Drink Your Way To Better Skin

Skincare and scent expert Lynette Lovelace is not about that life. She is consistently advising -not ready to let go of the sun – sippers to “pour the Pinot Noir, and of course, grab a bottle of water!” As the founder of Lifetherapy, a company built of scent therapy, Lovelace knows the importance of striking the right balance between indulgence and self-care — whether you’re selecting a mood boosting body scrub or spirit. She recommends “staying away from the caffeinated drinks, sugary mixers and anything with salt” which can cause skin to produce excess oil, under-eye bags and bloating.

6 Tips To Drink Your Way To Better Skin

It is also wise to alternate between drinking an eight-ounce glass of water for every wine, beer or cocktail consumed to make sure you’re not stripping too much water from your body. Basically, you should order – and finish – a round of waters with every round of drinks to keep everything soft and supple.

Don’t forget that even fully hydrated, some of the best-spiked drinks are still strong enough to make you lose track of how long you’ve been in the sun. A tried and true lounging tip to protect your skin in these moments is to set your phone timer for two-hour intervals and reapply sunscreen each time it goes off. It’s a simple way to avoid a sunburn and long-term damage to your skin.

Dr. Rosemary Ingleton, a board-certified NYC dermatologist and sought-after skincare expert also advises ditching that Margarita if you’re going to lay out in the sun. “Lime juice can sensitize the skin to the sun and cause skin discoloration.” She suggests you bask with her seasonal drink of choice, a glass of rosé instead.

However, the good doctor cautions people with rosacea to “avoid red wine, rosé or any other hard liquors.” The redness causing and acne-like skin disorder affects more than 16 million Americans and can be exacerbated by these alcohols. White wine is a safer fun in the sun drink choice if you are affected.

Regardless of your skin condition, reducing the frequency of your drinks will have a positive impact on your skin and overall body health. When it comes drinking and protecting your skin, it goes without saying that smarter choices overtime will lead to you looking and feeling good, a heck of a lot longer.

That’s not to say that you should swear off your favorite spirit – the sun filled days will be gone before we know it, after all. Just know a great drink once in a while is always better than a few OK ones every night. Be choosy. Your skin will thank you in the long run.